A sermon on John 6:51-58: Body and Blood of Christ

Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

Jesus was a "foodie." The Son of God loved to eat. His very first miracle of making 120 gallons of wine happened at a wedding banquet in Cana. 

Jesus dined with the poor, the outcasts, and those considered sinners by the religious leaders. Jesus used banquets to teach that God is generous. He invites everyone to His banquet not based on how good you are but on how good God is. We call that "grace," God's Love in action offered freely to anyone who accepts it. Jesus loved banquets as a symbol of His mission to reveal the joy of the Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus used the Last Supper meal to bring everyone who believes into a communion with God.

At that meal Jesus spoke the words of His desire to unite Himself totally to every fiber of your being. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread ... he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' (Matthew 26:26.) "Then he took a cup...saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Matthew 26:27-28.) 

What did Jesus mean when He said, you must eat my flesh? There are some who interpret these words of Jesus as symbols of faith.

Faith is central to the Christian life. Faith is how we receive eternal life. Faith in Jesus releases healing power. What did Jesus say to the woman who hemorrhaged blood for 12 years? 

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:34.) 

Faith grows through trials. Job lost his wealth and his health. Job felt hurt. He cried out to God "why"? 

But Job never lost his faith. It's easy to have faith when everything is fine. True faith is trusting in God when nothing makes sense, to endure during the worst storms of your life. Faith keeps you looking to Jesus and not the chaos of the storm. God rewarded Job for his unwavering faith by restoring all that he lost. God is telling His people that the sufferings you endure do not have the last word. 

There are Christians who believe that what Jesus did at the Last Supper was more than teach the importance of faith to give eternal life. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Jesus literally gave his followers the greatest gift God could ever give. His very self through Jesus. 

I believe Jesus changed the bread and wine into His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The entire Christ is contained in both the consecrated bread and wine. I remember a preacher jokingly telling me, "You Catholics are the true fundamentalists." 

How do Catholics explain this? The bread and wine at Mass do not become the earthly human flesh and blood of Jesus before His resurrection. Rather, they are transformed into the Glorified Body and Blood of Jesus  after His Resurrection. 

The Glorified Jesus was not subject to laws of our earthly world. He could change His appearance. He could walk through locked doors. The apostles thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus corrected them. 

"Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is I myself. Feel me, and you will know, for a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see I have." (Luke 24:39.) Jesus even ate a piece of broiled fish in their presence. (Luke 24:42-43.)

Those who do not accept this teaching (called transubstantiation) will quote John 6:63: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all." 

I agree with this. Human flesh is worthless. But the Body and Blood of Jesus present at Mass is not earthly human flesh but the Divine Glorified Heavenly flesh of Jesus who conquered sin and death. God offers Holy Communion to spiritually strengthen His children on the difficult journey to Heaven. The greatest joy of my life has been to serve the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus for 45 years.

Catholics usually make First Holy Communion at 7 years old. I made mine in 1956 at 5 years old when I snuck up to the Communion rail and received Jesus. My parents were mortified. My dad told me the priest  said, "Well, maybe God wants Michael to be a priest one day." 

His prophesy came true in 1981. I hope God was pleased. Blessings...Fr. Mike.